Railway-switch.



S. JAMES. RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED r23. 1, 191a.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

f1 TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL JAMES, F WACO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM C. HASI-IA, 0F WACO, TEXAS.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Application filed February 1, 1913. Serial No. 745,672.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL JAMES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway switches and has particular application to automatic switch actuating devices operable from a car while the same is in motion to throw the switch points so that the car or train of cars as the case may be may proceed in the desired direction.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a switch actuating device wherein by means of a disk formed with an irregular groove and rotatably mounted, the switch points or point as the case may be may be thrown to the desired position to affect the path of travel of the train or car. Furthermore, I aim to provide a switch actuating device of the class set forth wherein by means of a disk provided with a. cam groove and rotatably mounted,

the switch points may be thrown to the desired position, an operating mechanism being' connected up to the disk to rotate the same in a step by step manner so that the switch points will be thrown alternately in relatively reverse directions.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure is a top plan view of a switch actuating device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the rails of the main line are indicated at A, while B designates those of the siding or branch line, the movable switch point being shown at C.

The switch point C, is connected to a connecting bar or switch throwing bar 1 arranged transversely of the rails of the main line and adapted for sliding movement and fastened to the switch point in any suitable manner or by any well known or preferred means. The disk of the switch actuating device is indicated at 2 and in the present instance is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axle 3, and in the periphery of such disk is formed an irregular groove or cam slot 4.

The disk 2 is preferably formed of two sections 5 and 6 each equipped with a hub 7 and an adjusting screw 8, the proximate peripheral edges of the sections being formed in an irregular manner or after the fashion of a cam, as at 9, 9. Thus, the width of the cam groove may be varied in accordance with the circumstances of any particular case or as theexigencies of the case may require, the screws 8 permitting the relative movement of the disks for the purposes of adjustment, as is obvious.

Depending from the switch throwing bar 1 and pivotally connected thereto is a roller 10 disposed within the cam groove 4 and adapted to be aflected by the walls of such groove, to throw the switch point to open and close the switch, according to the initial position of such point. p

In order to operate or rotate the disk 2 I have fixed thereto and concentrically of t e axis thereof a ratchet wheel 11 and loosely encircling the axle 3 adjacent to the ratchet wheel 11, is the sleeved hub 12- of an arm 13 to the outer end of which is pivotally connected as at 14 a dog 15 spring pressed or otherwise held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet. Pivotally connected to the dog 13 as at 16, is an operating rod 17 which latter in turn is pivotally connected as at 18 to the crank 19 of a shaft 20. This shaft 20 is preferably located at some distance in advance of the switch point with respect to the siding and is arranged transversely of the rails of the main line and terminates at one extremity outwardly of one rail of the main line, and connected to'this outer extremity of the shaft 20 is an operating lever 21 normally held against a stop 22 by a tension device such as a contractile spring 28. A guard rail 24 spaced a suitable distance from the adjacent rail of the main line, is disposed upon the outer side of the operating lever 21 so that a contact shoe or the like device car ried by the car may, if necessary, be guided in its path of movement to properly engage the operating lever 21, as will be readily un derstood.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my device will be readily understood. Should the switch point he in a position to maintain a continuous track for the main line, and an approaching car desire to take the siding or branch line, the motorman upon such car lowers a shoe or other form of contact device which latter in its path of movement engages the operating lever 21 with the effect to rock the shaft 20 and through the crank portion 19 of such shaft and the rod 17 throw the arm 13 about the axle 3, thus engaging the dog 15 with the adjacent tooth of the ratchet wheel to rotate the disk 2 and consequently throw the switch throwing bar 1 to move the switch points, the walls of the cam groove 4 bearing upon the roller 10 for this purpose.

It will be seen that the disk 2 is operated or rotated successively and the switch points in such movement thrown in relatively reverse directions, the ratchet wheel rotating the disk in a step by step manner to accomplish this end.

In the embodiment of my invention, selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown the disk 2 as rotatable about a horizontal axis. It is to be understood, however, that the disk may be mounted to rotate about a vertical axis without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of the claim.

While I have herein shown and described one particular form of my invention by way of illustration, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth, as modification and variation may be made within the spirit of my invention and without exceeding the scope of the claim.

I claim:

A switch actuating device comprising a switch throwing bar, a horizontal axle mounted below said bar and in parallelism therewith, a disk upon said axle and composed of two sections each provided with a hub and having the confronting peripheral edges thereof formed after the fashion of a cam to provide an irregular groove, an adjustable connection between said hubs and the axle whereby the width of the groove may be increased and decreased, a roller on said switch throwing bar and disposed within said groove, a ratchet wheel secured to one section of said disk, a dog in engagement with said ratchet wheel, an arm loosely mounted upon .said axle and carrying said dog, an operating rod connected to said arm, a shaft provided with a crank portion connected to said operating rod, and an-operating lever connected to said shaft and adapted to actuate the dog to rotate the ratchet wheel and disk in a step by step manner to throw the switch point in relatively reverse directions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses,

SAMUEL JAMES.

Witnesses TOM M. HAMILTON, M. F. I-IAGERUP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

